The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topic"Herschel and Planck, probing the Universe as never before"
"An Ariane 5 rocket will be lifting off soon from Kourou with the Herschel and Planck observatories, together the most important space science programme that the European Space Agency will have ever launched. The Herschel space telescope will be opening a new window on the Universe at far-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths; Planck for its part will be studying the Cosmic Microwave Background, a fossil radiation relic of the Big Bang. Scientists expect great advances in our knowledge of how stars and galaxies are born, and a greater understanding of the evolution of the Universe.